Dept. t. of of Po Politic litical al Scie ience nce In Inte - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

• Prof. Dr. Wahabuddin Ra’ees

Dept.

• t. of
• f Po

Politic litical al Scie ience nce In Inte ternation national al Is Isla lamic mic Univer versity, sity, Mala laysi ysia a

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Democratic Transition in the Muslim World 27-28 Nov. 2017

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1.

A bit of History

2.

Collapse of the Taliban and the American Invasion

3.

Achievements

4.

Challenges

5.

Prospects

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 Afghanistan:  Monarchy moving towards

constitutional monarchy: before 1973

 Republic: 1973-1978  Communist Coup and the Soviet

invasion; 1978-1992

 The Mujahiddeen (anti-Soviet

resistance) and the Taliban: 1992- 2001

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 Afghanistan’s institutional set-up

had totally collapsed. It had become a failed state

 Stipulated democratization of

Afghanistan and Introduction of democratic institutions

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Art. 4 of the Agreement made

reference to:

promulgation of a constitution elections Mandated a Transitional

Government to facilitate full scale democratization of Afghanistan

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 Constitution was ratified on January 2004:

provides for effective system of checks and balances

 Laws on political parties was introduced in

March 2004

 Law on elections was introduced in May 2004  Independent Election Commission was

introduced in Nov. 2005. Before that Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB)

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 Election Complaint Commission

(ECC)- composed of two Afghans and three international figures

 Elections held:  3 for the president (9 October

2004, 20 August 2009, 2014)

 2 for the parliament (18 Sept.

2005 and 18 Sept. 2010, next one due in 7 months time)

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Civil Society-Human Rights

groups, Elections Observers, women rights associations etc. appeared on the Afghan political scene

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• 1. Absence of party politics and

party system. Candidates contested as independents. Afghanistan needs 2-5 strong multi-ethnic and inclusive political parties

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• 2. Reform of Electoral system and districting

need reforms: Currently single non- transferrable vote system (SNTV) with multi- member provincial constituency system with candidates with the highest votes as the

• winner. Suggested first-past-the-post

voting/proportional representation based on party list system with dividing the country into constituencies proportionate to the number of wolesi jirga of provincial and district level councils, also proportionate to the population

• f the respective provinces and districts.

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• 3. Lack of Political will by internal

actors and their international backers to institutionalize democracy (most important)

Attempts to delay parliamentary and even presidential elections due to fear of losing what they have gained since 2001

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Prospects

1.

People’s belief in genuine democracy. Almost all people agree that democracy can rid society of corrupt leaders, the fear is whether elections will be free and fair

2.

President Ghani appears to have the will to institutionalize democracy.

3.

Determination to hold elections on time

4.

Calls for inclusive elections-(internally displaced, refugees, conflict-ridden areas to have representative and take part in presidential elections

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• 4. Integration of armed opposition into political

process through Intra-Afghan peace talks

• i. Signed peace treaty with Hezbe Islami
• ii. Negotiation with Taliban going on

(US, Russia, China, Indonesia, Qatar to play a role)

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